A minor but significant subplot for Apple's (AAPL 0.85%) rollout of its latest iPhones was the news earlier this year that the iPhone will finally be available on NNT DoCoMo (NYSE: NTT), Japan's largest telecom company.
Fast-forward to October, and Apple's growing dominance in Japan had become nothing short of astounding.
Apple flexes its muscles
Recently, research firm Kantar detailed just how dominant Apple has become in Japan. According to Kantar, Apple's iPhone accounted for an amazing 76% of all smartphone sales in Japan in October. Furthermore, Apple's iPhone made up 61% of all smartphone sales on NTT DoCoMo in October.
Apple's success at NTT DoCoMo, and in Japan more broadly, is impressive enough. However, this sweeping success could also serve as a positive case study for what could potentially be the single greatest growth driver for Apple in the months to come: a deal with Chinese telecom giant China Mobile (CHL +0.00%).
A deal between Apple and China Mobile is reportedly growing closer by the day. And in the following video, tech and telecom analyst Andrew Tonner looks at the recent numbers for Apple and explains how he believes it relates to China Mobile.
